In a press release on March 29, 2025, Airbus announced its selection by ESA and Thales Alenia Space to design and build the lander platform for the ExoMars (Exobiology on Mars) mission. Airbus did not disclose the contract’s value; however, ESA had previously awarded a €522 million contract to Thales Alenia Space in April 2024 for the mission’s continuation.
Subsequently, Airbus secured a £150 million contract, funded by the UK government through the UK Space Agency, to develop the lander platform at its Stevenage facility. Set to launch in 2028, the lander will ensure the safe touchdown of the Rosalind Franklin rover on Mars in 2030, marking a major milestone for European planetary exploration.
“Getting the Rosalind Franklin rover onto the surface of Mars is a huge international challenge and the culmination of more than 20 years’ work. We are proud to have built the rover in our state-of-the-art Stevenage cleanroom and delighted now to develop the project to ensure its safe delivery to Mars.”
— Kata Escott, Managing Director, Airbus Defence and Space UK
As part of the contract with Thales Alenia Space, Airbus teams in Stevenage will develop the mechanical, thermal, and propulsion systems critical for the lander’s descent and landing. The ExoMars landing system will need to slow the platform from 45 m/s at the end of the parachute descent phase to less than 3 m/s before touchdown using retro rockets. Once this final braking burn is complete, the platform will deploy ramps to allow the Rosalind Franklin rover to roll onto the Martian surface.
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ExoMars, one delay leads to another
Named in honor of scientist Rosalind Franklin (1920–1958), the ExoMars rover was designed and built by Airbus in a bio-burden cleanroom in Stevenage. It was delivered to Thales Alenia Space in 2019, with an initial launch planned for 2020, but technical issues and geopolitical tensions forced more than one delay.
Originally, the mission aimed for a July 2020 launch, with the Kazachok lander handling the rover’s descent. However, unresolved parachute issues led to a delay, pushing the launch window to 2022.
Just weeks after Russia invaded Ukraine, ESA officially suspended the partnership in March 2022, halting the mission once again. With Kazachok and the Proton rocket no longer an option, ExoMars was left without a lander and launcher, requiring a complete redesign of its descent strategy.
ESA aims to revive the mission with the announced Airbus lander, targeting a 2028 launch. With new funding secured in 2024, work has restarted on completing the Rosalind Franklin rover and preparing it for its long-awaited journey to the Red Planet.
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New collaborations to fulfill the mission objectives
In May 2024, ESA signed an agreement with NASA to secure a U.S. launch vehicle for the ExoMars mission, replacing Russia’s Proton rocket. The mission is now scheduled for launch in 2028, ensuring Europe’s first Mars rover reaches the Red Planet despite previous setbacks.
NASA also contributes with its Radioisotope Heater Units (RHUs) to keep the Rosalind Franklin rover warm in the freezing Martian environment. These small devices generate heat through radioactive decay, preventing critical systems from freezing during the frigid Martian nights.
In March 2025, ESA selected SENER to develop key mechanisms for the mission. The company will supply systems for the lander’s entry module, including the landing gear, capsule separation adapter, UHF antennas, and components for the rover, such as the drill translation system and solar panel deployment mechanism.
The rover is undergoing software upgrades and adjustments to prepare for its long-awaited journey. Enhancements include a new autonomous mode that will allow it to quickly adapt to the Martian environment after landing, ensuring a smooth start to its scientific mission.
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